Definition
The highest speed at which an aircraft may be flown with the wing flaps extended to any approved setting. Exceeding this speed with flaps down can damage the flap structure or the mechanism that holds them in position. On the airspeed indicator, this limit is marked by the upper end of the white arc and is also published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook as V_FE (velocity, flaps extended).
Plain English
The fastest you are allowed to fly while the flaps are lowered. Go faster than this with flaps down and you risk bending or breaking them.
Context Anchor
Seen in airspeed indicator color-code discussions, airplane operating handbooks, and flight manuals when checking flap operating limits.
Derivation
“Maximum” comes from a Latin word meaning “greatest.” In aviation, it usually means a limit, not a goal. “Flaps-down” means the flaps are extended from the wing for slower flight, such as during takeoff or landing.
Why Pilots Care
Exceeding this speed with flaps down risks structural damage to the flaps and wing.
Grounding Statement
With the flaps extended, the airplane has a lower approved speed limit because the flaps are exposed to stronger airflow.
Intuition Check
Do not treat this as the best speed to use with flaps down. It is a do-not-exceed limit for flaps-down flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before lowering the first notch of flaps on the downwind leg, she slowed the aircraft to ensure she was below the maximum airspeed for flaps-down flight.
Example Sentence 2
In turbulence the aircraft stayed below the maximum airspeed for flaps-down flight while holding the flaps at 10 degrees.